Mascot picked from over 50 entries

The designs are in and the votes have been counted, the Ocean City Barons today announced the winner of their Mascot Competition! Making his debut as the first ever Barons mascot at the home opener at Carey Stadium on Tuesday May 22nd when the Ocean City Barons take on arch rivals Reading Rage, will be ’BOBBY THE BOARDWALK BARON.’

After hundreds of mascot designs were submitted, ranging from a shark, a red fox, a seagull, a pirate, a gorilla, and even an ice-cream cone! It was decided that a red airplane was the winner. The winning designer was Christie Pontari from Ocean City Intermediate School, whose whole class submitted a mascot design. "When we launched the mascot competition we never anticipated such a huge response", said General Manager Neil Holloway "Bobby the Boardwalk Barons is going to make a great masot. It has everything we were looking for."

Our winner Christie wrote an excellent explenation of her idea of what Bobby should be like to go along with her design, Christie wrote how Bobby can flap his wings to get the crowd soaring and that he has a need for speed. She mentioned that anyone that goes to the beach associates it with the boardwalk and airplaines. She added that Bobby will be fast and furious enough to taunt the opponents.The winning design an explenation also told how the crowd could sign a special fight sign for Bobby in the tune of the Philadelphia Eagles song,

John Granese, Barons President could not believe some of the designs, These kids are amazing!" A top marketing executive could not even think how these kids do. They use their immagination and are so creative, I loved Bobby from the moment I saw the design, and I new this was the winner. It is simply beautiful".

Christie’s design is now being manufactured into a life size mascot costume. The mascot is being sponsored by ’Gillians Wonderland Pier’, whose logo will apear on Bobby’s back. Christie will get to meet her design in person when Bobby comes to life at the Ocean City Barons home opener on Tuesday May 22nd, 7:30pm kick-off at Carey Stadium against the Reading Rage.